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76 FI beetle falling apart!! Help!

This all started after I drove 60 miles up north to a lake for a camping trip, no trouble on the way whatsoever. Before I left I checked my fluids and noticed my fan belt was falling apart, so I swapped it with my spare. It was at the correct tension when I started it, but it was idleing WAY to fast and making a squealing sound. So I loosened it a little and the sound went away and I made it home just fine. It still idles way to fast when running though.

So I went to do a tune up today, new cap and rotor, adjust valves, etc. I got to the rotor and cap and that's where the big trouble kicked in. I know I put the wires on the cap correctly, I've swapped them out enough to know how and I double checked the wires were going to the right cylinders. So I try to start it up and it won't start, the backfired like a .40 pistol.

I'm at a loss, I've done all these minor repairs before without any trouble? What could I have done wrong, anybody have any ideas on where to begin or what to look for?

Thanks Jon

76 FI standard beetle. Electronic ignition (if that makes a difference)
Reply to
Jon
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Ok I got it to start by putting on my old bosch cap, so it must have been something with the distributor cap. Now, as I read and understand from speedy's Jim page I need to go counter-clockwise from the notch in the distributor, in my case it's the front (of car) to the right. So I went counter-clockwise 2 3 4. It seems like it was setup 1234 clockwise before. I tried it both ways and it starts, but the counter- clockwise way seems to sound weird, like the valves aren't adjusted right. I'm just wondering what the firing order is, and if I've possibly had it wrong for so long.

Thanks

Reply to
Jon

1 4 3 2

Last time I changed wires I went the wrong way and had to just swap 4 and 2 to get her to start.

Reply to
David Gravereaux

thanks! I'm guessing I need to re-adjust my valves, which sound loose, so that will have to wait until tomorrow when the engine is cold and the heat of the day is past (it's hot as hell here in the south). I'll probably be back with more questions of what's really going on besides that problem.

Reply to
Jon

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